The Demise of Locally Owned Hardware Stores?

[joefromga]

One thing that I do not like about some bigbox stores here - they have split up Electrical and Plumbing, putting them in widely separated areas.

Yeah, I know why they are doing it (to make you wander around the store, to find these Must Fix Now items), but I do find it irritating, esp. when I am in a hurry.

Rgds, D.

Also the caulk guns are nowhere near the caulking.

 

[prichard]

I had a long list for the Orange box store a couple weeks ago. I methodically went through the store in order. First item was thinset, far, back left corner of the store, last item cement backer board far right front of store. Only then do I see the display rack that is supposed to have the screws for the backer board only has drywall screws. I even intentionally went down the screw aisle while I was other there in case they were there. Finally find someone, "Oh they're over in the tile section. I'll show you because they're hard to spot."

But they had everything on my large list. I can't say the same for any other store.


Nearest hardware store is Ace. Great for nuts and bolts but their real focus seems to be paint, weed and feed, and outdoor furniture. Also, they have a bunch of kids working there that are about as clueless as the big box folks.


At the other property and future homesite there is an old everything store - hardware, auto parts, feed and seed, ammo, etc. Love that place. Everyone has been there for years and knows what they sell. They can help you fix something up with what you or they have if they don't have exactly what you need. I sure hope the owner has some kids that'll keep it going after he's gone.

 

[3930dave]

LOL.

Sounds like these BB stores are helping us get some exercise ! :laughing:

I do like going for walks, but not when I need to grab some parts and get on with the rest of my day....

Rgds, D.

 

[MossRoad]

It could just be where I live or a sign of the times...

All my great locally owned Hardware stores are going away...

Some I had accounts with and others I patronized because they had what I needed.

ACE, TrueValue, Do it Best, etc... are fading fast.

Most had longtime family ownership and when the owner passed away or otherwise was not up to running the business that was the end... a few had long term leases and faced huge rent increases and that did them in.

My truck has never been broken into at a neighborhood hardware store and one was the size of a city block... unfortunately, my truck has been broken into several times at the big chain hardware stores even in the first aisle at noon on a Sunday.

The big chains have their place and I absolutely love my Lowes in Olympia WA area..

Box stores in the SF Bay Area not so much... when I make a contact in one of the box stores all is well until that person is no longer there.... the small independants I had relationships where I could call in a special order and it would be done...

I really miss the old timers with full service that had career employees who lived and breathed hardware...

The true independents folded when the box guys came to town... the ones with one or two stores and no national affiliations...

We have a few lumber yards with good service and they do carry some items... but nothing like an old fashioned store that would thread pipe, re-screen, cut glass, mix paint, rekey locks and have those hard to find items to make repairs especially for older homes...

We still have a small hardware store just a few blocks from us. Handy for quick stuff, but he can't be making enough money to survive. There are a couple True Value stores within 10 miles of us, and about 5 ACE hardware stores within 20. One local hardware store that specialized in plumbing closed last year. The last local lumber yard on this side of town bought out their inventory and started a small side line in plumbing. I was happy for that.